Upcoming training courses and info sessions

The Council’s Learning & Organisational Development team corporate course dates for 2025 are published on the Sharepoint Booking System. If the course you are looking for doesn’t have a date schedule yet you can still be nominated for it, which means you will get notified when new course dates become available.  Nominating couldn’t be easier, you simply need to complete the Learning & Development Course Nomination e-form.

Line manager training – Absence Management Series – LAST CHANCE!

As part of the council’s ongoing commitment to improving Absence, HR have launched further Absence Management Training designed to take managing absence back to basics and help Line Managers to manage employee absences effectively. Starting from September, get the schedule and find out more in the Latest News article.

If you are a new employee to North Ayrshire Council, you may wish to join a ‘Welcome to North Ayrshire’ session. Hosted by a member of the Learning and Organisational Development team, the one-hour virtual session will provide a short introduction to the council and will cover any questions related to e-learning. You will also get support to access the Employee Perks portal, and the upgraded Employee Wellbeing app and website provided by Champion Health. Places can be booked via Connects.

Ever wondered what development is appropriate for you in your role as a manager or supervisor?  Our Leadership Academy can help. It includes a structured programme of development for various levels of management across the council.

• First Line Managers – up to and including Grade 10 and Faculty Leader/Faculty Head/Principal Teachers 

• Middle Managers – Grades 11-13 and Depute Head Teachers 

• Senior Managers – Grades 14 – 17 and Head Teachers 

Find out more in the Leadership Academy pages on Connects, start with the First Steps. The First Line programme also applies to aspiring managers.

Booking onto a corporate course is pretty straightforward, simply:

1. Go to our Booking Site where you will find a list of current scheduled courses.

2. Identify the course you want to attend, if there are spaces available simply get booked on. 

3. If there are no spaces left, you can always add yourself to the reserve list – you will be emailed if a place becomes available.

4. If the course you wish to attend is not listed or if you want to be the first to now when a specific course becomes available, get yourself nominated for it by using the Learning & Development course nomination e-form. 

Planning on retiring in the next 5 to 10 years? – NEW!

Our online Pre-retirement course, delivered by Affinity Connect encourages a positive and realistic approach to help you make informed choices about your retirement plans and is aimed at employees who are considering retirement within the next 5-10 years.

The next sessions for 2025 are as follows: 

• Local Government Employees 
  Tuesday 18 November, 9.30am to 12pm

• Teachers 
  Thursday 2 October, 4pm to 5.30pm
  Tuesday 11 November, 4pm to 5.30pm

You can book your place via the booking database. If you have any difficulties accessing the database, please contact HR Learning and Development.

Book place for Adult Support and Protection Seminar – NEW!

The annual Ayrshire Adult Support and Protection Seminar will be held on Monday 20 October from 9am to 1.30pm at the Volunteer Rooms in Irvine, with a focus this year on financial harm. The seminar is aimed at multi-agency frontline staff and follows on from last year’s successful event that explored self neglect as a public health issue. This resulted in a number of local developments and improvements being taken forward in relation to Adult Support and Protection practice.

This year’s event offers an opportunity to come together to connect, reflect, and hear about a recent Learning Review from Highland Council. There will be two guest speakers – David Crawford, who was the Independent Lead Reviewer for the Highland case, and Deputy Public Guardian Debra Calderwood from the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG). The ultimate aim is to help us develop thinking around financial harm, the role of  prevention, consider risks, and look at proactive ways we might be able to take further steps to build on this across Ayrshire. If you’d like to book a place, email apc@north-ayrshire.gov.uk

Delirium awareness, prevention and management training for HSCP staff – NEW!

Staff who require to have a knowledge about delirium are invited to attend an hour-long training session being run by NHS A&A. The session will run on various dates over the coming months, both in person and online, and all staff and partners are welcome to attend. Dates and times of remaining sessions this year are as follows:

• Monday 10 November: University Hospital Crosshouse – Education Centre – Room 2B from 2pm
• Monday 13 October: University Hospital Ayr – Education Centre – Room 4 from 2pm
• Thursday 16 October, Thursday 18 November and Thursday 4 November all via: (Microsoft Teams) from 2pm. NHS-contracted staff can book onto a face-to-face session via LearnPro. If you are a non-NHS staff member who would like to book an in-person session, or if you’d like to book onto one of the Microsoft Teams sessions, contact morna.miller@aapct.scot.nhs.uk. Bespoke education can also be arranged for your team.

Moving and Handling information sessions for carers and families – NEW!

Safety is paramount when caring for someone who requires the use of moving and handling equipment, so we’re offering families and carers the opportunity to attend a free Moving and Handling information session at Castleview Hub in Ardrossan on one of the following dates, with separate sessions running in the morning (9.30am to 12.30pm) and afternoon (1.30pm to 4.30pm).

• Monday 29 September
• Wednesday 22 October
• Monday 17 November
• Tuesday 9 December

These sessions will cover the use of profiling beds, hoists and slings, slide sheets, commode chairs and more. Staff within the facility are trained in line with the Scottish Manual Handling Passport. Carers can book a place on one of these sessions by emailing: hscpmovingandhandling@north-ayrshire.gov.uk with their name, preferred date, and whether they want to attend the morning or afternoon session. Please note that there are 10 places available for each session, which will be allocated on a first come, first served basis.

Care at Home recruitment events

A number of Care at Home recruitment and information event have been scheduled. You can view an up-to-date list of all of our upcoming events on the NAHSCP website, where you will also find links to an online application form and the role profile.

The Care at Home service currently has a variety of positions available throughout mainland North Ayrshire and Arran. If you know anyone who is interested in applying for a role in care, please encourage them to come along to one of the events, where they can find out more about the current available roles. Staff will be available to assist with application forms.

Add the digital data and capability sessions for HSCP staff – ongoing!

Below is the latest in a series of roundups featuring upcoming digital and data training and development opportunities available to Health and Social Care staff. Click on the links below to find out more or register.

• Wednesday 1 October: (12.30pm to 1.30pm) Excel Tables (Excel for Beginners Session 5) – The KIND Network at NHS Education for Scotland (NES)
• Thursday 2 October: (11am to 1pm) Excel Programming (Intermediate Excel Session 5) – The KIND Network at NHS Education for Scotland (NES)
• Tuesday 7 October: (10am to 11am) Staying Safe: Safeguarding Against the Financial and Emotional Impact of Fraud & Cyber Crime in Social Care – Fraud & Cyber Protect
• Tuesday 7 October: (12pm to 1pm) Copilot Chat for Healthcare: Tips & Tricks for using AI at Work – Microsoft
• Wednesday 8 October: (12.30pm to 1.30pm) Excel Formulas (Excel for Beginners Session 6) – The KIND Network at NHS Education for Scotland (NES)
• Tuesday 14 October: (12pm to 1pm) Copilot Chat for Healthcare: Tips & Tricks for using AI at Work – Microsoft
• Wednesday 15 October: (12.30pm to 1.30pm) Excel Practical Review (Excel for Beginners Session 7) – The KIND Network at NHS Education for Scotland (NES)
• Wednesday 15 October: (3pm to 4pm) Staying Safe: Safeguarding Against the Financial and Emotional Impact of Fraud & Cyber Crime in Social Care – Fraud & Cyber Protect
• Wednesday 22 October: (1.30pm to 2.30pm) Staying Safe: Safeguarding Against the Financial and Emotional Impact of Fraud & Cyber Crime in Social Care – Fraud & Cyber Protect
• Tuesday 28 October: (12pm to 1pm) Copilot Chat for Healthcare: Tips & Tricks for using AI at Work – Microsoft
• Friday 31 October: (12.30pm to 1.30pm) Embracing Leadership at Every Level

Skills Network training for HSCP staff – NEW!

As part of our Learning and Development Strategy 2023-28, we stated that we are committed to making sure that NAHSCP staff are supported to ‘Be the Best They Can Be’. As part of this commitment, we are delighted to say we have been working in partnership with The Skills Network to develop free learning opportunities for our staff. These courses are funded through the Scottish Funding Council and delivered via distance learning, providing you the opportunity to learn at a time that suits you.

You can browse the wide range of available courses online. To enrol on a course, select ‘View Course’ then ‘Apply Now’. Please note that this is a personal development opportunity to be facilitated in your own time and no study time will be provided during working hours.

MCR Pathways Mentors required

By dedicating just one hour per week, you can positively impact the lives of local young people via the MCR Pathways mentoring programme. You don’t need any special skills or prior experience with young people; all you need is commitment, empathy, and the determination to make a positive impact. For more information about becoming a mentor, visit the MCR Pathways website.

Break the Silence support and learning tools – NEW!

Break the Silence provides support to people affected by childhood sexual trauma in North and East Ayrshire. The charity has developed a range of online tools designed to support individuals who have experienced childhood sexual abuse, as well as their families, partners, and the professionals who care for them. Developed with guidance from the charity’s client-led advisory group – as well as experts in the field – these resources reflect the real experiences and needs of survivors.

• Support while waiting for therapy: Recognising the challenges faced while waiting for therapy, this set of online self-help tools is designed specifically for survivors of childhood sexual abuse. These tools offer a safe, accessible space to begin the healing journey, with resources focused on grounding techniques, managing trauma responses, and building emotional resilience.
• Resources for families and partners: Family members and partners play a crucial role in a survivor’s healing process. A dedicated self-help tool is now available to support those closest to the survivor. This resource helps build understanding of the impact of sexual trauma, offers guidance on providing informed and compassionate support, and highlights the importance of self-care for loved ones.
• Training for Perinatal and Postnatal Care Providers – Supporting Survivors: Pregnancy, Birth, and Beyond: In collaboration with partners, Break the Silence has developed an online training module for professionals supporting individuals through pregnancy, birth and beyond. This training equips practitioners with the knowledge and confidence to provide trauma-informed care to survivors of childhood sexual abuse. Participants will gain a deeper understanding of the lasting effects of trauma, how to navigate sensitive situations, and how to promote safety and healing in their practice.

It is hoped that these tools will increase awareness, reduce isolation, and help create a more compassionate network of support for survivors and those around them. Referrals to Break the Silence can be made for any North or East Ayrshire resident aged 18 years and over who has experienced childhood sexual abuse. To make a referral, call 01563 559558, email info@breakthesilence.org.uk, or visit the website. Individuals can also self-refer.

External sessions…

Bitesize learning – sign up for 2025

‘Bitesize’ is a leadership development programme designed specifically for staff in NHS Ayrshire & Arran and the three Ayrshire health and social care partnerships. The programme is for anyone from any team, at any level, who wants to learn, grow, lead and participate in building our vision, Caring for Ayrshire. It focuses on the importance of everyone’s role in initiating and driving forward improvement and change, developing ideas and working with others to build our future.

Sessions are online and will run once a month for one hour from January 2025 to November 2025. If you’d like to find out more, contact aa-uhb.daringtosucceed@aapct.scot.nhs.uk

Child Protection training calendar

The North Ayrshire Child Protection Committee Training Calendar has now been updated to include the courses on offer between now and the end of June. The workforce levels for training have been redefined this year, and the team have added a section to the calendar explaining these so you can decide which course is right for you.

Support in our Communities…

Digital support for over 50’s

CLASP (Community Led Action & Support Project) is a charity based in Stevenston. Its HOPE Goes Digital project provides six free sessions on essential digital skills for anyone aged 50 plus living in North Ayrshire – using their smartphone, tablet or laptop – which will be held in local venues.

Alongside digital skills sessions, HOPE Goes Digital offers telephone befriending, 1-2-1 befriending in the Three Towns area, digital groups, lunch clubs, arts and crafts, health and wellbeing activities and social outings. People can be referred for digital skills sessions and come along to activities. For more information, contact Salena (Digital) or Jim (Activities) by calling 01294 602 711 or emailing info@clasps.org.uk.

Free online course on medicine-related needs for older people with a sensory impairment

A free, online course around impaired sight or hearing has been launched by the University of Strathclyde. This four-week course will teach attendees about the medicine-related needs of older people with a sensory impairment and how best to support those needs. If you’re interested in finding out more, visit the Alliance website, where you will also find a registration link.

Grief Resources by Healing Hearts in Irvine and Kilwinning

Grief support groups are currently operating in Irvine and Kilwinning. Anyone is welcome to go along for free community support for those who are grieving. The friendly Healing Hearts groups can also help people with new skills who want to understand how to better support someone following a bereavement. The Irvine groups operate at Irvine Library (Mondays 11am-midday) and Trindlemoss Day Opportunities (Thursdays 4-6pm). For Kilwinning, the sessions take place on Fridays at Kilwinning Library in the morning (10.30am -midday) and as the afternoon is fully booked (12.30pm-2.30pm).

Pan Ayrshire Tobacco-Free Alliance

NHS Ayrshire and Arran’s Public Health team is looking to set up a Pan-Ayrshire Tobacco Free Alliance as part of the Smoke Free Scotland Strategy. If you are interested in getting involved in the project, please contact: Yvonne.Miller2@aapct.scot.nhs.uk for further information.

Support sessions for visually impaired parents

Blind Parents UK offers a range of free support services for visually impaired parents across the UK, as well as providing advice for professionals who support parents with a vision impairment. To find out more about the services provided, including information on how to get in touch, click on the link to the organisation’s leaflet on the NAHSCP website.

Support to stop smoking

NHS Ayrshire & Arran’s ‘Quit Your Way’ is a free service that can support staff and members of the public to stop smoking through face-to-face support, drop-in sessions and support over the phone, including free nicotine replacement therapy if required.

North Ayrshire Quit Your Way clinics for October are being held as follows:

You can find further information, including how to refer or self-refer to the service, on the NHS A&A website.

Support is available from CAAST team

The Child and Adolescent Specialist Substance Team (CASST) works with children and young people (aged five to 21) who are affected by alcohol and/or other drug use, whether that be their own use or that of a parent, carer or another member of the family. CASST provides an intensive support service to young people and their families by delivering a tailored programme based around their needs, as identified during an initial assessment. Anyone can refer to CASST, so if you are aware of a young person who could benefit then please get in touch by calling 01294 468213 or emailing CASST@north-ayrshire.gov.uk